Production cost for a semiconductor data storage apparatus is significantly reduced by using the same controller to support an external analog module and an internal analog module. In a data processing system, a controller is provided with switching elements composed of fuses. Switching between the external analog module composed of an external power supply circuit, an external power supply monitor circuit, and a clock generator element and the internal analog module composed of an internal power supply circuit, an internal power supply monitor circuit, and a self-excited oscillator circuit is performed by arbitrarily disconnecting the fuses. For example, when an internal power supply voltage Vdd1 generated by the external power supply monitor circuit is supplied to the controller or the like, the fuse is disconnected. Thus, measures can be taken in accordance with a purpose by, e.g., selecting the external analog module when an interleave operation is used.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A semiconductor data storage apparatus comprising: one or more semiconductor memories; an external analog module comprised of at least one of an external power supply circuit, an external clock oscillator circuit, and an external power supply monitor circuit; and a data processing unit connected externally to said external analog module, wherein said data processing unit is capable of controlling, based on arbitrary one of operating programs, reading data stored in said one or more semiconductor memories, performing a specified process, and writing a data to one of said one or more semiconductor memories, and wherein said data processing unit includes: an internal analog module corresponding to said external analog module and comprised of at least one of an internal power supply circuit, an internal clock oscillator circuit, and an internal power supply monitor circuit, a switching element for making enable/disable settings for said internal analog module and said external analog module, a memory sensor unit for sensing the number of said semiconductor memories in connection, and a control unit for judging whether the number of said semiconductor memories sensed by said memory sensor unit is larger or smaller than a reference value and outputting, when the number of said semiconductor memories is larger than the reference value, a control signal which enables said external analog module to said switching element.
2. A semiconductor data storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said data processing unit comprises: a current sensor circuit for sensing a current value of any one of an internal power supply voltage and a power supply voltage supplied from a data processing apparatus for managing said semiconductor data storage apparatus; and a control unit for judging whether or not the current value sensed by said current sensor circuit is equal to or more than a reference value and outputting, when the sensed current value is equal to or more than the reference value, a control signal which enables said external analog module to said switching element.
3. A semiconductor data storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said data processing unit comprises: a voltage sensor circuit for sensing a voltage level of any one of an internal power supply voltage and a power supply voltage supplied from a data processing apparatus for managing said semiconductor data storage apparatus; and a control unit for judging whether or not the voltage level sensed by said voltage sensor circuit is equal to or more than a reference voltage level and outputting, when the sensed voltage level is equal to or less than the reference voltage level, a control signal which enables said external analog module to said switching element.
4. A semiconductor data storage apparatus comprising: one or more semiconductor memories; an external analog module comprised of at least one of an external power supply circuit, an external clock oscillator circuit, and an external power supply monitor circuit; and a data processing unit connected externally to said external analog module, wherein said data processing unit is capable of controlling, based on arbitrary one of operating programs, reading data stored in said one or more semiconductor memories, performing a specified process, and writing a data to one of said one or more semiconductor memories, and wherein said data processing unit includes: an internal analog module corresponding to said external analog module and comprised of at least one of an internal power supply circuit, an internal clock oscillator circuit, and an internal power supply monitor circuit, a switching element for making enable/disable settings for said internal analog module and said external analog module, and a control unit for controlling the switching of said switching element based on a command issued from a data processing apparatus being coupled with outside of said semiconductor data storage apparatus, and wherein said switching element makes the enable/disable settings for said internal analog module and said external analog module based on a control signal outputted from said control unit.
5. A semiconductor data storage apparatus comprising: one or more semiconductor memories; an external analog module; and a data processing unit connected externally to said external analog module, wherein said data processing unit is capable of controlling, based on arbitrary one of operation programs, reading data stored in said one or more semiconductor memories, performing a specified process, and writing data to one of the one or more semiconductor memories, wherein said data processing unit includes: an internal analog module corresponding to said external analog module; and a switching element for making enable/disable settings for said internal analog module and said external analog module, and wherein said switching element controls switching between the enable/disable settings depending on an operating mode of each of said semiconductor memories.
6. A semiconductor data storage apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said external analog module is comprised of at least one of an external power supply circuit, an external clock oscillator circuit, and an external power supply monitor circuit, and wherein said internal analog module is comprised of at least one of an internal power supply circuit, an internal clock oscillator circuit, and an internal power supply monitor circuit.
7. A semiconductor data storage apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said switching element enables said external analog module when said one or more semiconductor memories are performing an interleave operation and enables said internal analog module when said one or more semiconductor memory are not performing the interleave operation.
8. A semiconductor data storage apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said data processing unit comprises: a control unit for controlling the switching of said switching element based on a command issued from a data processing apparatus being coupled with outside of said semiconductor data storage apparatus, and wherein said switching element makes enable/disable settings for said internal analog module and said external analog module based on a control signal outputted from said control unit.
9. A semiconductor data storage apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said switching element makes enable/disable settings for said internal analog module and said external analog module based on a control signal outputted from a data processing apparatus being coupled with outside of said semiconductor data storage apparatus.
10. A semiconductor data storage apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said data processing unit comprises: a memory sensor unit for sensing the number of said one or more semiconductor memories in connection; and a control unit for judging whether the number of said one or more semiconductor memories sensed by said memory sensor unit is larger or smaller than a reference value and outputting, when the number of said one or more semiconductor memories is larger than the reference value, a control signal which enables said external analog module to each of said first to third switching elements.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 16, 2005
January 6, 2009
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